Study abroad allows students to explore Morocco

The students explore a local bazaar, the perfect place to buy souvenirs.

Dinner gave time for students to relax after long days out in the Sun.

Students gather around the campfire to sing and dance during an overnight trip in
the Sahara.

Editor's note: Emma Dear is a sophomore majoring in public health. She traveled to
Morocco for Maymester as a part of a study abroad program.

I always knew I wanted to study aboard in college. At first, I had a full semester
in mind, but since I was a freshman last year it seemed too soon. So when I heard
about Preston’s Maymester trip to Morocco, it looked like the perfect opportunity.
I would get to travel somewhere I’d never been to before for a relatively short amount
of time. It was like a test run to see if this was something I really wanted to do
for a whole semester.

Everything was finalized by December and I’d taken a specialized class that spring
about Moroccan culture, but I was still nervous about how I’d be treated as a woman
in a predominately Muslim country. Luckily, my fears were completely unfounded. Morocco
is a country with progressive cities, and the people there are incredibly tolerant
and kind. Their acceptance of others can be seen by the way they speak so many different
languages: Arabic, French, Spanish, Italian and English. The experiences and the people
I met there are unforgettable.

We visited six different cities and had enough free time to explore all of them. We
always had group dinners, either at restaurants or a local’s house, and ate traditional
Moroccan food. I even got to try a camel burger. Since our visit also coincided with
Ramadan, a small group of us fasted with our tour guide for a day. We didn’t eat the
entire time the sun was up. It was really difficult, but as soon as the sun went down
we had a feast for dinner.

Because I’m a public health major, I conducted a research project in Morocco about
women’s health. I had to be careful about how I phrased my questions, and not to have
any Western-bias, but all the women I talked to were really open. Health history is
a very personal thing to share, and while there are differences between Morocco and
the U.S., it isn’t as far apart as you would think.

The days we spent in different bazaars throughout the trip were insane. Shopping there
isn’t like how it is in the U.S. where there is a set price for things and you just
pay for it. In Morocco, you have to barter for anything you want to buy. Most tourists
aren’t used to that, so the merchants will start out by asking for a price that’s
marked up 50 percent higher than what they will take for their goods. I knew not to
fall for it, and as time went on I learned different strategies on how to trade. I
ended up coming home with souvenirs like a mosaic coffee mug, a mini mosque and a
camel ornament for my mom.

Some of my favorite memories from the trip were the nights we spent out in the Sahara.
We all drove out in a bus to the middle of nowhere, got off then traveled through
the desert for two days on camelback. Without our caravan leaders, we would’ve been
completely lost. In every direction I looked, everything looked the same: sand, sand
and more sand.

On one of the nights, we came across a tribe of nomadic people native to north Africa
known as the Berbers. We visited them and one of the local women hosted us in her
tent and gave us mint tea. She was living in poverty, but she still showed us hospitality.
That really cemented in my mind the generosity that Moroccans have for others.

Coming back home, I still keep in touch with my fellow travelers. We’re having a Moroccan-style
reunion dinner as soon as we all get back to Columbia this fall. I can’t wait to see
them.

Learn more

Interested in having your own adventure? Visit the Study Aboard Fair on Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom, or take a look at the Study Abroad Office website.